Field Site
Niwot Ridge NEON / NIWO
Core Terrestrial, CO, D13: Southern Rockies & Colorado Plateau
About Field Sites
The Niwot Ridge Mountain Research Station (NIWO) is a terrestrial site within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, 27 km (16.8 mi.) west of Boulder, Colorado and 6 km (3.7 mi.) east of the Continental Divide. NEON collects data over 13.4 km2 (3311 acres) at the site, which is on land managed by the University of Colorado in Boulder and the U.S. Forest Service. Sitting at 3000-3600 m (9843-11810 ft.) in elevation, this site's climate and biota are representative of the diverse landscapes of the Southern Rocky Mountains. Diverse gradients allow NEON to challenge questions surrounding land use change, climate impacts, and disturbance processes at multiple elevations. NIWO is part of NEON's Southern Rockies and Colorado Plateau Domain (D13). D13 includes one other terrestrial site and two aquatic sites. NIWO is located near the COMO aquatic site. [1]
Climate
NIWO is located in the Southern Rockies, which, due to elevational changes, have a climate characterized by dramatic differences in precipitation and temperature over very short distances. In general, precipitation decreases and temperature increases with a decrease in elevation. NIWO ranges through several elevation gradients, creating diverse climates across the region. It is considered an alpine tundra ecosystem. Mean annual temperature is 0.3°C (32.5°F) with the majority the of the mean annual 1005 mm (39.5 in.) of precipitation being snow at the highest elevations. Snow is brought from the east by cyclonic easterly upslope flows of air at the lower elevations. Spring storms often occur during the afternoons. Fall is the driest season in this region with the lowest average precipitation recorded. At the lower elevations there are many distinct microclimates within the saddles, knolls, moraines, and other glacial features. [2] [4] [7]
Geology
The geology at Niwot Ridge consists of schist, migmatite, and biotitic gneiss. [5]
Soils
The dominate soil order found at NIWO are Mollisols. Overall, soil can be described as Coarse-loamy - mixed - superactive Typic Haplocryolls. [1]
Hydrology
NIWO is located within the Rocky Mountains, which are covered in snowmelt-fed springs and upland catchments which deliver water to downstream basins. Boulder receives most of its drinking water from these basins. [6]
Vegetation
Flora varies along an elevation gradient at NIWO. On the low-elevation east and south facing slopes, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and aspen (Populus tremuloides) groves dominate the landscape. The transition zone between the closed subalpine forest and alpine tundra are full of meadows interspersed with stunted patches of coniferous trees. The alpine tundra sits above the treeline and is dominated by herbaceous plants such as Ross’ avens (Geum rossii) and curly sedge (Carex rupestris). The steepest, highest regions of NIWO are dominated by microplants and scree.
Fauna
The Rockies have many diverse animal species that call them home including Black bear (Ursus americanus), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), porcupine (Erithizon dorsatum) and elk (Cervus danadensis). Niwot ridge has both seasonal and year round residents such as the white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) and is host to 31 species of mammals. NEON collects fauna data on small mammals, birds, ticks, mosquitoes, and ground beetles. Commonly sampled species at NIWO are deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), redbacked voles (Myodes gapperi), and the ground beetle Pterostichus surgens. [1] [2]
Past Land Management and Use
The area has experienced multiple ecological disturbances throughout history, including stand-replacing fires, episodic insect outbreaks, and occasional wind damage. In the early 1900s the logging industry clear cut the forest. The area is encompassed within Niwot Ridge, which was established as a site in the NSF-sponsored Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program in 1980. [8]
Current Land Management and Use
NIWO is hosted by and operated under the Forest Service and the University of Colorado-Boulder (CU Boulder). The Mountain Research Station (MRS) at Niwot Ridge is an interdisciplinary research facility of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at CU Boulder, which facilitates research to understand mountain ecosystems and advance education. Within this station, research is conducted via several organizations sponsored by the National Science Foundation including the Niwot Ridge LTER, Boulder Creek Critical Zone Program, and the NEON program. The MRS program was established at its current site in 1920 on property leased by the U.S. Forest Service. Research themes at Niwot Ridge include the movement of energy and nutrients across the subalpine-alpine landscape, the influence of nitrogen deposition on ecosystems and hydrology, and the influence of climate on diversity and ecosystem function. [1] [3] [9]
NEON Site Establishment
Characterization of NIWO began in May 2015. Terrestrial sampling readiness reviews were completed and initial site sampling began in August of that year. Tower establishment was completed and TIS became operational in April 2017.
Additional Resources
[1] Terrestrial Observation System (TOS) Site Characterization Report: Domain 13. NEON.DOC.003896vB
[2] Greenland, David 1989. The Climate of Niwot Ridge, Front Range,Colorado, U.S.A.
[3] https://www.colorado.edu/mrs/general-info/mission-history
[4] PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, http://prism.oregonstate.edu, created 4 Feb 2004.
[5] U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia. https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/
[6] Fields, Jordan F.; Dethier, David P. 2019 From on high: Geochemistry of alpine springs, Niwot Ridge, Colorado Front Range, USA
[7] https://climate.colostate.edu/climate_long.html
Field Site Information
Latitude/Longitude
40.05425, -105.58237
Geodetic Datum
WGS84
Location
Boulder County
CO, US
Elevation
Mean: 3490m
Minimum: 2975m
Maximum: 3583m
Mean Annual Temperature
0.3°C
Dominant Wind Direction
WNW
Mean Canopy Height
0.2m
Dominant NLCD Classes
Evergreen Forest, Grassland/Herbaceous
Colocated Site(s)
Colocated Research
Boulder Creek CZO
Niwot Saddle National Atmospheric Deposition Program
Critical Zone Exploration Network
University of Colorado
Ameriflux
NOAA Earth System Research Laboratories Global Monitoring Laboratory
NOAA U.S. Climate Reference Network
Field Operations Office
1685 38th Street, Suite 100
Boulder, CO 80301
Research Access
Non-NEON research activities are allowed in this area. Researchers must obtain their own permits with the site host(s).
Observation Types
Remote Sensing
Remote sensing surveys of this field site collect lidar, spectrometer and high-resolution RGB camera data.
Meteorological Measurements
This site has a flux/meteorological tower that is 8 m (26 ft) tall with four measurement levels. The tower top extends above the vegetation canopy to allow sensors mounted at the top and along the tower to capture the full profile of atmospheric conditions from the top of the vegetation canopy to the ground. The tower collects physical and chemical properties of atmosphere-related processes, such as humidity, wind, and net ecosystem gas exchange. Precipitation data may be collected by a tipping bucket at the top of the tower, and a Double Fence Intercomparison Reference (DFIR) near the tower.
Phenocams
One phenocam is attached to the top and the bottom of the tower. Here we show the images from the most recent hour. The full collection of images can be viewed on the Phenocam Gallery - click on either of the images below.
Tower top
Tower bottom
Soil Sensor Measurements
This site has five soil plots placed in an array within the airshed of the flux tower. Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) at soil surface, soil heat flux, and solar radiation are measured at the soil surface in each soil plot. Soil moisture, soil temperature, and CO2 concentration are measured at multiple depths in each soil plot.
Observational Sampling
At terrestrial sites, field ecologists observe birds and plants, and sample ground beetles, mosquitoes, small mammals, soil microbes, and ticks. Lab analyses are carried out to provide further data on DNA sequences, pathogens, soils, sediments, and biogeochemistry. Learn more about terrestrial observations or explore this site's data products.
Field Site Data
Site
Site Host
US Forest Service, University of Colorado-Boulder
Site Access Allowed
Yes
Site Access Details
Reseachers should coordinate with the site manager and submit a site research permit.
Operations Office
NEON Field Operations Office
Domain 10/13 Support Facility
NEON Field Operations Address
1685 38th Street, Suite 100
Boulder, CO 80301
NEON Field Operations Phone
720.836.2439
Location
Latitude
40.05425
Longitude
-105.58237
Geodetic Datum
WGS84
UTM Northing
4433940.92m
UTM Easting
450328.28m
UTM Zone
13N
County
Boulder
State
CO
Country
US
Mean Elevation
3490m
Minimum Elevation
2975m
Maximum Elevation
3583m
Climate
Mean Annual Temperature
0.3°C
Mean Annual Precipitation
1005mm
Dominant Wind Direction
WNW
Vegetation
Mean Canopy Height
0.2m
Dominant NLCD Classes
Evergreen Forest, Grassland/Herbaceous
Average number of green days
130
Average first greenness increase date
140 DOY
Average peak green date
190 DOY
Average first greenness decrease date
220 DOY
Average minimum greenness date
270 DOY
Tower
Tower Height
8m
Number of Tower Levels
4
Soils
Megapit Soil Family
Coarse-loamy - mixed - superactive Typic Haplocryolls
Soil Subgroup
Typic Haplocryolls
No Video
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